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Singing in the pain (about castrated singers - with audio)
BBC ^
| Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 09:24 GMT 10:24 UK
| By Sean Coughlan
Posted on 03/29/2006 3:32:07 AM PST by alnitak
click here to read article
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Interesting article, if you can get by the usual dumbed-down BBC writing. Follow the link to listen to the "last castrato", Alessandro Moreschi, recorded in 1902.
1
posted on
03/29/2006 3:32:11 AM PST
by
alnitak
To: alnitak
I wonder who first came up with this idea and how they sold it. "Just let us chop off your...."
2
posted on
03/29/2006 3:33:21 AM PST
by
alnitak
("That kid's about as sharp as a pound of wet liver" - Foghorn Leghorn)
To: alnitak
Were not the Bee Gees Castroti as well?
3
posted on
03/29/2006 3:36:34 AM PST
by
manwiththehands
(Islam is as Islam does.)
To: alnitak
One of the earlier---and better---Anne Rice novels was about a castrato. "Cry To Heaven."
To: alnitak
Slim Whitman comes to mind for some reason. 10-4
5
posted on
03/29/2006 3:38:47 AM PST
by
Waco
To: ahayes
6
posted on
03/29/2006 3:39:53 AM PST
by
ahayes
To: alnitak
Odds are, the first castrati was an accident -- a boy singer who lost his ... er ... package through misfortune, and whose voice did not change thereafter.
7
posted on
03/29/2006 3:40:26 AM PST
by
Junior
(Identical fecal matter, alternate diurnal period)
To: alnitak
I listened to it. I'm not impressed. The singing was almost as painful as, well...
8
posted on
03/29/2006 3:41:00 AM PST
by
BlessedBeGod
(Benedict XVI = Terminator IV)
To: ahayes
Takin' One for the Team ping!
To: alnitak
"Oh, Tito! What are you doing with that knife?"
10
posted on
03/29/2006 3:43:53 AM PST
by
ClearCase_guy
(Never question Bruce Dickinson!)
To: alnitak
Well...even by 1902 recording standards he didn't sound all that good! However, from listening to him you can hear the difference between a male falsettist and a castrati. I once read that the only European country to outlaw castration during its heyday, (and put some force behind the law), was France.
11
posted on
03/29/2006 3:50:13 AM PST
by
Diva
To: alnitak
Handel's era was the heyday of the castrati, but the fashion for their musical style faded Gee, wonder why.
12
posted on
03/29/2006 3:51:14 AM PST
by
mtbopfuyn
(Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
To: alnitak
I heard that clip (sorry) in my History of Vocal Music class at UofM back in the 70's. I new it was an old recording but was under the impression that the singer was much older (see my daughter's comments farther down in this post) when the recording was made. Maybe when you are 19, 44 sounds ancient.
I showed the article to my "brilliant daughter" just now. Here are her comments:
Another thing about castrati that the article mentioned but didn't really STRESS was that castrati weren't just popular among women. Good castrati were considered the best artists in pretty much all of the 18th-century (and late 17th century) stage and it wasn't until Gluck and the beginning of the classical period that women started more typically singing women's roles. Castrati would often have the part of the hero in Handelian-era operas and oratorios which is why you get so many heroic soprano arias in Handel, for instance. They were originally meant for a castrato.
People say that by the time he made that recording, he was already old and past his prime, and it's not in any way indicative of his original abilities, because I think castrati tended to have a fairly short career, but I could be wrong about that
To: manwiththehands
14
posted on
03/29/2006 4:16:59 AM PST
by
Slump Tester
( What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
To: alnitak
I hear that voice and all I can think about is the prison that it represents.
I agree with this quote:
"It is unnatural in every way, depending on an operation that is an abomination to every man, and yet if it worked, delivered something that, in the opinion of some of the greatest composers of all time, was the supreme human voice - founded on utter and supreme inhumanity."
There is a hellish quality that goes along with the sound of the voice, knowing that someone has been mutilated for the pleasure of others.
Besides, what good does it do to be adored by women if you can't do anything about it?
15
posted on
03/29/2006 4:30:16 AM PST
by
SlowBoat407
(The best stuff happens just before the thread snaps.)
To: alnitak
I'm reminded of the novel,
Fools Die by Mario Puzo.
In one chapter, the main character's ex-girlfriend is dating an agent/manager who is trying to convince the parents of a young man, that the boy should be castrated, to maintain his beautiful young singing voice.
The ex-girlfriend is offended at the request at takes the boy into the back room and screws him.
The boy comes rushing out and pops the agent/manager in the mouth.
The implication is that she was showing the boy what he might miss out on if castrated.
16
posted on
03/29/2006 5:29:46 AM PST
by
Bear_Slayer
(When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty)
To: Bear_Slayer
Happens to me all the time.
17
posted on
03/29/2006 6:22:01 AM PST
by
alnitak
("That kid's about as sharp as a pound of wet liver" - Foghorn Leghorn)
To: alnitak
18
posted on
03/29/2006 6:24:08 AM PST
by
CholeraJoe
("Have mercy, sobbed the alien. Got to find my way back home.")
To: alnitak
Happens to me all the time. So, do you ever get tired of screwing young boys?
;-)
19
posted on
03/29/2006 6:25:22 AM PST
by
Bear_Slayer
(When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty)
To: Nightshift
20
posted on
03/29/2006 7:16:07 AM PST
by
tutstar
(Baptist Ping List Freepmail me if you want on or off this ping list.)
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